April 21, 2007

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Entering the ninth inning tied at two, the Elon Phoenix manufactured the go-ahead run with an RBI double to right center field by Chris Dove to surge back in front, 3-2. In the home half of the frame, freshman Brent Greer launched his second career home run over the left field wall to knot the game at three. With the bases loaded, junior Jonathan Greene - whom Dove robbed of a two-run home run in the bottom of the first - was hit in the back on a 1-2 pitch to drive in the game-winning run in the same fashion as Friday night as Western Carolina completed the series victory over Elon, 4-3, Saturday afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.

The win -- Western's 12th in its last 13 outings - also gave the Catamounts their fourth-straight SoCon series victory on the year, while also snapping Elon's similar string of 11-consecutive. Also, Western moved into possession of second place in the SoCon standings by percentage points, still trailing first-place, College of Charleston.

Following Greer's one out home run, which completed the 2-for-4 day for the rookie from Manassas, Va., designated hitter Jason Haynes was hit by a pitch, chasing Phoenix starter, Will Romanowicz. Junior Barrett Shaft drew a walk to put two aboard, with Haynes stealing third to leave runners at the corners in front of junior Steven Strausbaugh, who like his classmate walked to load the bases for Greene's heroics.

Western Carolina starter, left-hander Drew Saberhagen, gave up seven base hits and a pair of runs through the first three innings, but settled down to retire 10-straight Phoenix hitters while allowing just one additional base hit through the next trio of frames. He finished with a total of six innings pitched, scattering eight hits and two earned runs while also striking out a pair but did not factor in on the decision. Freshman lefty Chris Masters tossed two and a third, allowing one earned run on one base hit with a strikeout in middle relief.

Junior Greg Holland (3-2) picked up his second-straight victory over Elon, tossing the final two thirds of an inning of scoreless ball, allowing just one hit on nine pitches. He won for the second-consecutive night as the offense rallied in the latter innings while he was the pitcher of record.

Elon (22-19, 11-6 SoCon) capitalized on early base hits, pushing across a run in the top of the first inning. Dove led off with a single and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jordy Snyder. Back-to-back singles by Chris Vasami and Pat Irvine to opposite outfields allowed Dove to trot home before Saberhagen rallied to post a strike out and a fly ball out to left field.

The Catamounts answered in the bottom of the second inning as senior Kenny Smith, who posted a game-high 3-for-4 performance at the plate, blasted his team-best 13th home run of the season over the "Purple Monster" in left field to tie things at one apiece.

The knotted score was short lived, though, as the Phoenix again strung consecutive base hits together before eventually scoring on a sacrifice fly to right center for the 2-1 advantage.

In the fourth, Western (26-12, 10-4 SoCon) stole a page out of Elon's playbook as Greene and Smith opened the frame with consecutive singles, with senior John Ingram advancing the runners on a sacrifice bunt. The next batter, freshman Nick Liles, lifted a sacrifice fly to left to allow Greene to score the tying run, thus setting up the ninth-inning fireworks.

Romanowicz (4-2) suffered the loss for Elon, which is currently amidst its longest losing skid of the season at four games, by virtue of hitting Haynes with one out in the ninth. The right-hander lasted eight and a third innings, allowing four earned runs on nine base hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts. Reliever Jesse Lewter retired one Catamount on 25 total pitches, but plunked Greene to drive in the game-winning run.

The two teams wrap-up the three-game series in Cullowhee on Sunday afternoon, with the first pitch scheduled for 2:00 pm at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium. Western will throw sophomore RHP Corey Martin (3-1, 3.90 ERA) while the Phoenix counter with senior RHP Zach Booker (3-3, 5.26 ERA).

Fans can follow all of the action live on GameTracker, presented by Carolina West Sports Medicine and West Care Health Systems, by logging onto www.CatamountSports.com.